National report — Categorizing urticaria and following up with effective treatment can prove to be very challenging to the clinician, according to Aniko Kobza Black, M.D., attending physician, St. John's Institute of Dermatology and St. Thomas Hospital, London.
Danville, Pa. — When a patient presents with a spontaneous abscess with surrounding cellulitis, physicians should suspect methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), according to Dirk M. Elston, M.D.
National report — Drug companies have begun responding to infectious diseases, which are growing not only in prevalence, but also, in some cases, in virulence and drug resistance, an expert tells Dermatology Times.
How much of your personal investment portfolio should be dedicated to municipal bonds depends on variables such as your tax bracket, your tolerance for risk and your age.
Time and motion studies aren't just for assembly line workers; dermatology practices can benefit, too. Unnecessary walking is a prime time-waster in many physician practices. Don't think it's happening in your practice? Put on a pedometer tomorrow when your first clinic starts. At the end of the day you'll be amazed at how far you've walked.
Hershey, Pa. — An increased risk of developing a variety of cancers has long been associated with kidney transplants, but a direct correlation has never been made between renal transplants and the development of melanoma — until now.
New Orleans — A new plasma-based system (Plasma Skin Resurfacing/PSR, Gyrus Medical) appears effective for repeated treatments using nonablative energy parameters.
Atlanta — Although many physicians remain skeptical about the use of injectable silicone, Stephen Mandy, M.D., of Miami discussed the benefits of using the synthetic polymer to treat acne scarring at the American Society of Dermatologic Surgery Meeting here.
National report — Children infected with herpes simplex virus can be safely treated with valacyclovir — an antiviral commonly prescribed to treat adult herpes infection, according to research by Richard F. Jacobs, M.D., F.A.A.P., a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Arkansas Children's Hospital.
The parasitic disease is regarded by the World Health Organization as one of the most serious infectious diseases worldwide.
Philadelphia - The emergence of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and new approaches to treatment of various bacterial illnesses are capturing the interests of dermatologists.
Las Vegas — With many new treatments for psoriasis now available, dermatologists need to educate themselves about these drugs in order to enable optimal care for their patients, said Mark Lebwohl, M.D., at the annual Fall Clinical Dermatology Conference, here.
Louisville, Ky. - Before submitting an Institutional ReviewBoard (IRB) proposal in the United States to perform what likelywill be one of the world's first face transplants, researchers hereare addressing a host of ethical and practical matters they hopewill smooth the approval process.
There is a significant variation in the age of sufferers, just as there are various forms of acne.
Atlanta — Facial rejuvenation has sparked interest in procedures that make other telltale signs of aging, such as wrinkled or bony hands, more youthful.
Philadelphia — Long-term use of antibiotics to treat acne can leave the patient more vulnerable to upper respiratory tract infections, according to a paper authored by David Margolis, M.D., Ph.D., and published in the September issue of the Archives of Dermatology. Dr. Margolis is an associate professor of dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia.
Philadelphia — Combination therapy with a topical retinoid and oral or systemic antibiotic represents first-line treatment for patients with inflammatory acne, but once adequate clearing is achieved, maintenance therapy with a topical retinoid alone is worth a try, says James J. Leyden, M.D., emeritus professor of dermatology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.
The retinoic acid metabolism-blocking agent (RAMBA) Rambazole (Barrier Therapeutics) has demonstrated promising efficacy and safety as a novel oral treatment for acne in early clinical trials along with potential activity as a topically applied agent. Based on those results, this novel compound is about to proceed into further testing of its topical use in a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled study and for oral administration in a double–blind, dose-finding study.
There is a significant variation in the age of sufferers, just as there are various forms of acne.
National report — Because of an increasing resistance of the P. acnes bacterial strains to existing antibiotics, researchers are working to develop new treatments that can effectively control inflammatory acne.
It may be possible to make a more effective benzoyl peroxide product by means of a stimulant, an accelerator andmodification of the vehicle.
Proper application consists of placing a "fingertip unit" of medication at each of 10 spots on the face — two on the mid-forehead (left and right), one each on the tip of the nose and chin, two spaced across each cheek, and one on each side of thelower face at a location that is approximately mid-distance between the spots on the cheek.
Atlanta — According to Michael H. Gold, M.D., medical director of the Tennessee Clinical Research Center in Nashville, the Food and Drug Administration registration requirement for Accutane (Roche) users — in combination with side effects caused by other modalities — has launched a quest for alternative therapies in the treatment of moderate to severe inflammatory acne vulgaris. He argues that one of the best contenders is intense pulsed light (IPL) with topical 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) as photosensitizer.
Walnut Creek, Calif. — Advances in phototherapy are bringing greatly needed new options for the treatment of hypopigmentary conditions in patients with ethnic skin, says Min-Wei Christine Lee, M.D., M.P.H., a dermatologic surgeon and director, The East Bay Laser and Skin Care Center, Walnut Creek, Calif.
Drugs can be the answer to many dermatological problems – but they can also be the cause of many skin problems. Sometimes a drug unexpectedly helps skin conditions, and sometimes a drug causes an unexpected adverse reaction.
Preferably, PDL treatment should be initiated within the first two to four weeks after scar development.
What effect, if any, has the new bankruptcy act had on physician's asset protection plans? In short, the answer is "a significant one." In this article, we will explain exactly what this effect has been and why it is so important for all physicians to re-examine their planning because of it.
Typically, you will be completely dependent on your high-speed Internet connection, and may not be able to function without that connection.
Studies have shown that the average fund manager — the highly paid professional who picks out the stocks that a mutual fund will buy — does no better than the average non-professional dart thrower.
With a growing shortage of qualified healthcare workers, there has never been a better time to consider the importance of how to retain the best and brightest talent over the long term.
